Farrowing pen



J. H. BECKERS Oct. 5, 1965 FARROWING PEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 22, 1965 lm Anlbm O .HWHNHNNNIONAWONn HHNNONNMWNQNIHHNM Oct- 5, 1965 J. H. BECKERs 3,209,728

FARROWINGV PEN INVENTOR.

M0550# H. 66x/Q5 Oct. 5, 1965 J.H.BECKERS FARROWING PEN Filed Aug. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gm f ga/M United States Patent O 3,209,728 FARROWING PEN Joseph H. Beckers, S. Robert St. Road, Rte. 10, South St. Paul, Minn. Filed Aug. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 303,854 2 Claims. (Cl. 119-20) This invention relates to farrowing pens. More particularly, it relates to a farrowing pen structure which constitutes one of a multi-unit farrowing pen assembly and is designed to provide an improved pen in which the sow may farrow.

It is a general object of my invention to provide a novel and improved farrowing pen which is of simple and inexpensive construction and serves its intended purpose in a more adequate manner.

A more specic object is to provide a novel and improved farrowing pen unit which reduces the labor involved in the handling and care of farrowing sows very substantially.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved farrowing pen which constitutes a single unit which may be utilized in association with corresponding units at a substantial savings to provide an improved farrowing pen assembly of multi-unit capacity.

Another object is to provide a farrowing pen which is constructed and arranged so as to provide increased safety to the new born piglets.

Another object is to provide an improved farrowing pen which eliminates substantially all labor in the care of the sow during the farrowing period and during the subsequent period while feeding the piglets and provides an improved means for exercise and feeding of the sow as desired.

Another object is to provide an improved farrowing pen which is more sanitary than farrowing pens heretofore used and tends to improve the health of the sow and piglets.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or `similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective View of one embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating on an enlarged scale the construction of the corners of the frame as viewed from within the pen.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale illustrating the structure supporting the wooden floor.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along line 5 5 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the structure of a portion of the abbreviated partition and one of its associated gates and guard rail.

One embodiment of my invention as shown in FIGS. 1-6 includes a rigid frame indicated generally by the numeral 6 carrying a pair of side panels 7 and 8. The rigid frame 6 is rectangular and includes a pair of elongated angle irons arranged so that one leg of each extends upwardly in substantially back to back position with the panel 8 positioned therebetween while the other legs extend in the same horizontal plane at the lower extremities thereof. One of these angle irons 9 is best shown in FIG. 1 and the other is disposed immediately inwardly thereof with its upstanding leg as well as that of the angle iron 9 welded to the lower extremities of the 3,209,728 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 ICC panel 8. An elongated tubular member 1t) is welded to the upper extremities of the panel 8 as shown in FIG. 1.

Welded to the forward end and underside of the horizontal legs of the pair of angle irons which includes the angle iron 9 is a transversely extending horizontal bar which is apertured at each of its ends so as to provide a laterally extending bracket such as the apertured bracket 11 which extend outwardly from each side of the panel 8. The other bracket (not shown) comparable to bracket 11 extends inwardly beyond the inner edge of the horizontal leg of the inner angle iron (not shown). A similar transversely extending bracket is welded to the underside of the rear ends of the pair of angle irons which include the angle iron 9 and provides an outwardly extending bracket 12 which is apertured similar to the bracket 11 and provides a corresponding bracket (not shown) extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the horizontal leg of the inner angle iron. A similarly apertured transversely extending bar is welded to the underside of the two horizontal legs of said pair of angle irons at their medial portions to provide an outwardly extending bracket 13 and a similar and corresponding inwardly extending bracket (not shown) which extends inwardly beyond the inner edge of the inwardly disposed angle iron.

The opposite panel 7 is constructed identically to the panel 8 and has a Kcorresponding pai-r of elongated angle irons which are disposed with their upstanding legs in back to back relationship with the panel 7 therebetween and with horizontal legs in the same horizontal plane. It is also provided with transversely extending bars welded to the underside of the horizontal legs to provide pairs of inwardly and outwardly extending brackets one each of which corresponds to the brackets 11, 12, and 13 and their associated inwardly extending brackets.

Bolted to the inwardly extending brackets welded to the undersides of the inwardly disposed angle irons carried at the lower extremities of the panels 7 and 8l and at their forward ends is a transversely extending angl-e iron 14, as best shown in FIG. 3. As shown, the horizontal leg of the angle iron 14 is bolted to the inwardly extending brackets carried at the front lower corners of the panels 7 and 8. A similar elongated angle iron 15 is bolted to the corresponding inwardly extending brackets which are carried at the lower rear corners of the panels 7 and 8 and are welded to the underside of the horizontal legs of the angle irons which are welded to the lower extremities of these panels.

Also welded to the front end portions of the panel 8 is a pair of elongated upstanding angle irons 16 and 17 which have one of their legs in back to back relationship at opposite sides of the panel 8 so that the panel extends between the two angle irons as best shown in FIG. l and the other legs of the angle irons 16 and 17 extend in a single transverse vertical plane disposed inwardly. These angle irons are of sufficient length so that they extend a substantial distance below the lower extremities of the panel 8 to provide leg members such as 18 to maintain the front end of the panel 8 in elevated position relative to the iioor.

A similar pair of angle irons 21 and 22 are welded to the forward end of the side panel 7 in positions corresponding to that of the two angle irons 16 and 17 relative to the panel 8. These angle irons identified by the numerals 21 and 22 have two of their legs in substantially back to back relationship with only the panel 7 therebetween and with their other legs extending outwardly in a single vertical transverse plane disposed inwardly. As shown, these angle irons 21 and 22 extend downwardly from panel Sto provide a leg 19.

The rear ends of the angle iron 9 and its associated angle iron are supported by a pair of upright angle irons 3 23 and 24 which are welded to the rear end of the panel 8 and are correspondingly positioned at opposite sides of that panel so that their adjacent legs extend in substantially back to back relationship parallel to the panel and at opposite sides thereof and outwardly while their other legs extend in a single vertical transverse plane disposed inwardly of the back to back legs. These angle irons 23 and 24 are likewise of sufficient length so as to maintain the angle iron 9 and the rear end of the panel 8 in elevated position relative to the oor and form a leg 20. As indicated above, they are welded to the rear end portion of the panel 8 to complete the side panel unit.

A similar pair of angle irons are welded in corresponding positions to the rear end of the side panel 7 to complete that side panel unit, these angle irons having been identified by the numerals 25 and 26. As shown, they have their adjacent legs disposed in substantially back to back relationship and extending outwardly at opposite sides of panel 7. Their other legs extend away from each other in a single transverse vertical plane disposed inwardly. These two angle irons 25 and 26 similarly extend downwardly from the lower rear corner of panel 7 to provide a leg member 27 therefor.

Bolted at one of its ends to the apertured bracket which extends inwardly and is associated with the bracket 13 is a transversely extending metal bar 2S which is of inverted T-shape in cross-section. At its other end it is similarly bolted to the inwardly extending bracket carried by the medial portions of the panel 7 in a corresponding position to provide rigid support for the medial portions of the frame 6 as well as the metal mesh floor as hereinafter described.

Supported at its front and rear end by the angle irons 14 and metal bar 28, respectively, is a rectangular metal mesh floor indicated generally by the numeral 29. This oor 29 includes a transversely extending angle iron 30 at its front edge and a second transversely extending angle iron 31 at its rear edge and a plurality of laterally spaced support bars 32 which extend between the two angle irons and 31 and are welded thereto. Welded to the upper and horizontal legs of the angle irons 30 and 31 is a rectangular sheet 33 of steel mesh material. This can best be seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Extending transversely between and supported by the horizontal legs of the inwardly disposed angle irons carried at the lower extremities of each of the panels 7 and 8 is a plurality of wooden plank members 34 which cooperatively define a wooden floor indicated generally by the numeral 35. As shown, this floor 35 extends across the rear half of the frame 6 in elevated position corresponding to that of the steel mesh oor 29. A plurality of transversely spaced tie bars 36 are welded to the underside of bar 28 and angle iron 15 to aid in supporting the plank members 34.

Welded to the rearwardly extending leg of each of the angle irons 23, 24, 25, and 26 and extending upwardly therealong from a point adjacent the lower extremities of panels 7 and 8 is an angle iron such as 37, 38 to cooperatively form therewith a channel within which one end of a transversely extending rear wall 39 may be slidably received. As shown this rear Wall 39 may be in the form of a plank member. The construction of these channels can best be seen by reference to FIG. 5. Abutment members 40 are welded across the channel and between the angle irons 37, 3? to support the wall 39 at a point adjacent the lower extremity of the panels 7 and 8.

Welded to the inner surface of each of the panels 7 and 8 at an elevated position relative to the oor 3S and at a point disposed inwardly of the rear wall 39 and in opposed and corresponding positions are inwardly extending apertured ears such as indicated by the numeral 41. Corresponding and oppositely positioned at the outer surfaces of panels 7 and 8 are similar apertured ears such as indicated by the numeral 42. Welded to the upper extremity of the panel 7 directly above the ear 41 is a transversely extending bar or plate 43 which is apertured at each of its end portions to provide apertured ears 44 and 45. It will be noted that the ears 44 and 41 are vertically aligned and comprise a pair of vertically spaced ears adapted to removably and slidably receive an elongated securing pin 46 therein.

Welded to the upper extremities of the panel 8 and extending transversely thereto is a bar 47 corresponding in construction, position, and formation to the bar 43. It provides an apertured ear 48 disposed directly above the ear 42 and an ear 49 disposed directly above the ear positioned on the inner surface of panel 8 directly opposite ear 42. The ear 49 and the ear posoitioned on the inner surface of the panel 8 directly opposite ear 42 comprise a pair of vertically aligned and spaced ears adapted to removably and slidably receive securing pin 50.

Extending between the two ears 44 and 49 and removably secured thereto by the pins 46 and 50 is an intermediate partition 51. As shown, this partition 51 is provided at each of its ends with one of a pair of vertically extending metal tubes 52, 53 through which one of the pins 46, 50 extends to secure the partition between the panels 7 and 8 at a position disposed forwardly of the rear wall 39. The lower extremities of this partition 51, it will be noted, are disposed in somewhat elevated relation to the wooden oor 35- sufficient to permit piglets to pass thereunder while restraining a sow from moving thereunder.

Bolted to the inner or facing surfaces of the panels 7 and 8 in upwardly and rearwardly inclined positions, as best illustrated in FIG. 6 is a pair of oppositely facing angle irons one of which is indicated by the numeral 54. Welded to the inwardly extending leg of each is a pair of vertically spaced and aligned tubular sleeves such as indicated by the numerals 55, 56. Extending between and welded to the upper ends of each of the angle irons represented by the one identified by the numeral 54 is a transverse tubular member 57. A pair of transversely spaced depending tubular members 58, 59 are welded to this transverse tubular member 57 at medial portions thereof to provide a rigid support for a panel 60 which constitutes an abbreviated partition member welded thereto and to the member 57.

Welded to the lower ends of the tubular members 58 and 59 and extending transversely of the frame 6 therebetween is an angle iron 61 which, as shown in FIG. 2, rests against the back side of the inverted T-shaped member 28.

Welded to the tubular member 53 is a pair of vertically aligned and spaced tubular sleeves 62, 63. Similarly, a pair of vertically aligned and spaced sleeves 64, 65 are welded to the member 59.

A gate member 66 having an elongated sleeve 67 at one of its sides and a similar sleeve 68 at the other side extends between the panel 7 and the abbreviated partition 60. A securing pin 69 having a hook at its upper end slidably and removably extends through the sleeves 55, 56 and the sleeve 67 while a second and similar pin 70 slidably and removably extends through the sleeves 62, 63 and the sleeve 68.

A second gate member 71 is removably secured to the opposite end of the abbreviated partition 6). This gate 71 includes a vertically extending tube 72 at one of its ends which, in cooperation with the sleeves 64, 65 slidably and removably receives a hooked securing pin 73 to secure that end of the gate to the partition 60. A second and similar tube 74 is welded to opposite end of the gate 71 and is secured to the sleeves carried by the inner surface of the panel 8 (similar to sleeves 5S, 56) by the hooked securing pin 75.

Bolted to the inner surfaces of each of the panels 7 and 3 in opposed relation is a pair of guard rails one of which is shown and identitied by the numeral 76. As shown, each guard rail has a pair of supporting legs 77, '78 which rest upon the wooden floor 35. Each of the guard rails are spaced inwardly of its supporting panel 7 or 8 and is elevated relative to the floor 35 so as to permit piglets to pass thereunder while preventing the sow from passing thereunder.

It will be noted that the spacing between the abbreviated partition 66D and the rear partition 51 is just adequate for a sow to pass therebetween but insufficient for the sow to turn around endwise. Also, the Width of the gates 66 and 71 is just adequate for a sow of normal size to pass therethrough.

Welded to the tops of angle irons 21, 22 is a transverse apertured plate or bar 79 which provides laterally extending apertured ears 80, 81. Welded into the angle of angle iron 21 is an apertured ear S2. The pair of ears 80, 82 are vertically aligned and spaced. Welded into the angle of angle iron 22 is an apertured ear 83 disposed directly opposite ear 82 and forming with ear 31 a pair of vertically aligned and spaced ears.

Welded to the tops of angle irons 16, 17 is a transverse apertured plate or bar 84 which provides laterally extending apertured ears 85, 86. Welded into the angle of angle iron 17 is an apertured ear 87. The pair of ears 85, 37 are vertically aligned and spaced. Welded into the angle iron 16 is an apertured ear 88 disposed directly opposite ear 87 and forming with ear 86 a pair of vertically aligned and spaced ears.

A front gate member 89 includes a lower elongated panel 9i) and upper rod framework structure identified by the numeral 91. Carried at each end of the gate S9 and tixedly secured thereto is one of a pair of vertically extending tubes or sleeves 92, 93. A securing pin 94 is slidably and removably received within the apertures of the ears titl, 82 and the sleeve 92 to secure the gate S9 at one of its ends to the panel 7 while a similar pin 95 is similarly received within the apertures of the ears 86, S8 and the sleeve 93 to secure the opposite end thereof to the panel 8.

As the sow approaches its farrowing time, it is placed within one of my farrowing pens as shown in the drawings, in preparation for the same. The sow may be admitted by removing the pins 94 and 95 and thereafter removing the front gate 89. After the sow has entered the pen, the gate 39 is, of course, replaced and the sow is permitted to become acquainted with its new quarters. In this connection, the two short gates 66 and 71 will be opened by removing the hooked pins 70 and 73 and swinging these two gates to a parallel extending position relative to its associated side panels 7 or 8, as the case may be. When in open position, the hooked securing pin 70 may be hooked over the upper edge of the side panel '7 and the hooked securing pin 73 may be hooked over the upper edge of the side panel 8. When the farrowing pen is arranged in this manner, the sow is free to pass from the feeding area into the farrowing area and back again at will until she becomes thoroughly familiar with her quarters.

When the farrowing becomes imminent, the one short gate 66 or 71 is closed and the sow is driven into the confinement or farrowing area defined by the abbreviated partition 60 and the two gates 66 and 71 and the rear partition 51. After the sow enters this confinement area, the two gates 66 and 71 are secured in the position shown in FIG. l so that the sow will be confined in the elongated farrowing area which is of ample space to permit her to lie down but sufficiently narrow to preclule the sow from turning around endwise. It will be noted that when the sow lies down, her legs may extend rearwardly beneath the partition 51, or if desired, forwardly beneath the abbreviated partition 60 with the associated gates 66 and 71.

The narrow feature of the confinement or farrowing area is an important one in that it precludes the sow from turning endwise and thereby trampling the new born piglets. This a serious problem during the farrowing procedure for many sows are relatively nervous and frequently get up and turn around a number of times at the slightest disturbance with a consequent heavy death toll exacted upon the young pigs for frequently the sow steps upon the piglets while turning around with the result that they are seriously damaged or killed. It Will be noted that as the piglets are delivered, there is a natural protective area dened by the guard rails 76 so that as the piglets are delivered they are projected into this guarded area to further aid in protecting them in the event the sow stands up between delivery of 'the individual piglets. Consequently, the piglets may remain in the protected area until they have gained sufficient strength to move around and into the piglet area defined between the rear partition 51 and the rear wall 37. From this area they have access to the breast of the sow and can nurse from a relatively protected position so that even though the sow may be disturbed and jump to its feet, the piglets will be in a protected area to avoid trampling thereof as a result of the movement of the sow. It will be noted that if the sow lies so that its legs extend beneath the partition 51, its breasts will be positioned along a vertical plane substantially identical with that of the rear partition 51 so that the bodies of the piglets will remain substantially entirely in the piglet area between the rear wall 37 and the partition 51 while nursing.

If desired, after the farrowing procedure has been Cornpleted, the sow may be periodically confined in a similar manner in the farrowing area for the nursing operation to provide maximum protection to the piglets during the early days of their life. Normally, however, this should not be required unless the sow is of a highly nervous type or of a particularly careless type with respect to its young.

When it is desired to provide feed and exercise for the sow, this can be readily accomplished by opening one of the gates 66 or 71, depending upon the direction the sow is facing. This enables the sow to proceed into the feeding and exercise area defined by the front gate 89 and the abbreviated partition 6i). It will be noted that even though the sow may return to the confinement or farrowing area, it still cannot turn around endwise while therewithin and consequently maximum protection to the piglets is afforded. Since most of the droppings of the sow occur during the feeding operation, the steel mesh floor Z9 has an important function in that the droppings may pass downwardly therethrough to maintain the pen in maximum sanitary condition. It will be noted that the feeding and exercise area is of ample dimensions so that the sow may turn around endwise therein at will. In this connection, the upward and rearward inclination of the abbreviated partition 60 is important for it facilitates the turning around of the sow while within that area since the rump area of the sow extends rearwardly farther than its rear feet. As a consequence, the sow may turn around with greater facility in an area having an upwardly and outwardly extending wall such as is provided by the panel 60 than if the same extended vertically.

Among the advantages of my farrowing pen is the fact that it can be completely dissembled with a minimum of effort and loss of time. Another and perhaps a primary advantage, is the fact that the use of such a farrowing pen eliminates substantially all of the labor normally associated with the care of a sow and its young before and after the farrowing procedure. In addition, it will be noted that a substantial saving in the Cost of farrowing pens is effected since each of my farrowing pens is designed so that it can be readily converted into one of a plurality of multi-unit assembly since a second pen can be provided very easily by securing an identical structure to one of the side panels 7 or 8 after having removed one of the side panels of the second pen and connecting the remainder of the structure to the side panel of the farrowing pen such as is shown in FIG. l. In such an operation, the structure which attaches to the side panel 7 7 of the pen shown in FIG. l would be connected to the ears 11, 12, and 13 shown in FIG. l and carried by the side panel 8. In other words, the side panel 8 would perform the dual function of a side panel for each of the two pens.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A farrowing pen structure for use as one unit of a multi-unit farrowing pen assembly comprising:

(a) a rigid rectangularly shaped frame,

(b) a pair of opposed rigid impertorate upstanding side walls mounted upon said frame and extending parallel to each other in spaced relation and being of the same length and having corresponding iront and rear ends,

(c) a rigid upstanding end wall rigidly secured to the corresponding rear ends of said side panels and extending therebetween,

(d) a set of pairs of laterally extending vertically spaced ears one pair of which is connected with each of said side panels at each side thereof at its forward end, each of said ears having a vertically extending aperture formed therethrough and aligned vertically with the opening of the other ear of that pair,

(e) a rigid front gate member having an upstanding imperforate lower panel extending along its lower edge and an upper upstanding rod framework extending upwardly from and along the upper edge of said lower panel,

(f) a pair of vertically extending tubular members one each of which is secured to one end of said front gate and is of lesser length than the vertical distance between the individual ears of each of said pairs of ears and is positioned between one of said pairs of ears in vertically aligned relation to its apertures,

(g) a pair of elongated rigid securing pins, one each of which extends vertically through the apertures of one of said pairs of vertically spaced ears and through one of said tubular members to secure said front gate between front ends of said side panels, said pins being readily removable to permit detachment of said front gate from said side panels,

(h) a second set of pairs of vertically spaced an-d aligned ears one pair of which is fixedly secured to each side of each of said side panels in opposed relation, adjacent to but inwardly of said end wall, each of the ears of said second set having a vertically extending aperture formed therethrough in vertically aligned relation to the other,

(i) a rear upstanding rod-framework partition extending between said side panels at said second set of ears,

(j) a pair of vertically extending tubular members,

one each of which is secured to one end of said partition and is of lesser length than the vertical distance between the individual ears of each of said pairs of said second set of ears,

(k) a pair of elongated rigid securing pins, one each of which extends vertically through one of said pairs of vertically spaced ears of said second set and through one of said tubular members on said partition to secure said partition between said side panels, said pins being readily removable to permit detachment of said partition from said side panels,

(l) a second but abbreviated elongated partition positioned between said side panels and rigidly secured thereto and disposed between said front gate and said first mentioned partition and extending parall-el thereto, said second partition including an imperforate upstanding panel member and terminating at each of its ends short of its adjacent side panel a sufficient distance to permit a sow to pass therebetween and being disposed adjacent said first mentioned par tition a distance therefrom approximating the width of a sow,

(rn) a pair of vertically extending and vertically aligned and vertically spaced tubular members carried by said abbreviated partition at each of its ends,

(n) a pair of vertically extending and vertically aligned and vertically spaced tubular members carried by each of said side panels opposite said abbreviated partition,

(o) a pair of rigid upstanding relatively short gate members one each of which extends between one of said side panels and one end of said abbreviated partition,

(p) a vertically extending tubular member carried by each of said short gate members at each of its ends, the lengths of said tubular members on said short gates approximating the distance between the ears of each pair carried by said side panels and said abbreviated partition,

(q) a plurality of elongated pivot pins, one each of which extends through a pair of said tubular members carried by said side panels and one of said tubular members carried by one of said short gates and one each of which extends through a pair of said tubular members carried by said abbreviated partition and one of said tubular members on one end of one of said short gates to hold said gates in position between said side panels and said abbreviated partition and thereby divide the area defined by said side panels and said front gate and first mentioned partition into an elongated relatively narrow farrowing area between said partitions and a relatively wide feeding and exercising area between said iront gate and said abbreviated partition,

(r) said elongated pivot pins being removable to permit said short gates to be detached from said abbreviated partition to permit the sow to leave said farrowing area and enter said feeding and exercising area for food and to re-enter said tarrowing area for confinement therein by said gate members during farrowing,

(s) a rigid screen mesh floor supported by said frame in elevated relation to the lower extremities of said frame and extending between said side panels and said front gate and said abbreviated partition,

(t) a wooden plank oor extending at the same level as said screen mesh fioor and extending between said side panels and said rear wall and said abbreviated partition,

(u) said first mentioned partition having a lower edge spaced vertically a short distance above said wooden floor to permit new born piglets to pass thereunder while preventing the farrowing sow from moving thereunder, and

(v) rigid guard rails mounted on each of said side panels and extending therealong in spaced relation thereto and in somewhat elevated relation to said wooden floor to enable new born pigs to pass thereunder but prevent the tarrowing sow from moving thereunder and thereby provide protection to the same as they are delivered, each of said guard rails extending from said full partition along one of said side panels to the short gate which extends between that side panel and said abbreviated partition.

2. A farrowing pen structure comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed rigid upstanding side panels extending generally parallel to each other in spaced relation and being of substantially the same length and having corresponding ends,

(b) a rigid gate member rigidly secured to a corresponding end portion of each oi' said panels and extending therebetween,

(c) a rigid partition extending between and rigidly secured to the corresponding opposite end portions of said side panels,

(d) a second but longitudinally abbreviated rigid partition positioned between said side panels and rigidly secured thereto and dividing the area dened by said side panels and said first mentioned partition and said gate member into an elongated relatively narrow farrowing area and a relatively wide and large feed and exercise area,

(e) said abbreviated partition terminating at each of its ends short of its adjacent side panels a sufficient distance to permit a sow to pass therebetween,

() and relatively short gate members secured to said abbreviated partition and extending between the same and its adjacent said side panel,

(g) the distance between said first mentioned partition and said abbreviated partition being such that the transverse dimensions of said farrowing area are insufficient to permit a sow to turn around endwise while therewithin,

(h) said relatively short gate members being movable between open and closed positions to permit the sow 10 to leave said farrowing area and enter said feed and exercise area for food and exercise and to re-enter said farrowing area for confinement therein by said gate members during farrowing,

5 (i) said first mentioned partition being disposed in somewhat elevated relation to the lower extremities of said side panels suflicient to permit piglets to pass thereunder and yet prevent the sow from passing thereunder, and

(j) an upstanding rigid wall extending between the extreme ends of said side panels and defining a piglet area between said side panels and said first mentioned partition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/61 Golay 119-2() 10/63 Miller 119-20 

2. A FARROWING PEN STRUCTURE COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF OPPOSED RIGID UPSTANDING SIDE PANELS EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER IN SPACED RELATION AND BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LENGTH AND HAVING CORRESPONDING ENDS, (B) A RIGID GATE MEMBER RIGIDLY SECURED TO A CORRESPONDING END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID PANELS AND EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, (C) A RIGID PARTITION EXTENDING BETWEEN AND RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE CORRESPONDING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE PANELS, (D) A SECOND BUT LONGITUDINALLY ABBREVIATED RIGID PARTITION POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SIDE PANELS AND RIGIDLY SECURED THERETO AND DIVIDING THE AREA DEFINED BY SAID SIDE PANELS AND SAID FIRST MENTIONED PARTITION AND SAID GATE MEMBER INTO AN ELONGATED RELATIVELY NARROW FARROWING AREA AND A RELATIVELY WIDE AND LARGE FEED AND EXERCISE AREA, (E) SAID ABBREVIATED PARTITION TERMINATING AT EACH OF ITS ENDS SHORT OF ITS ADJACENT SIDE PANELS A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO PERMIT A SOW TO PASS THEREBETWEEN, (F) AND RELATIVELY SHORT GATE MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID ABBREVIATED PARTITION AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SAME AND ITS ADJACENT SAID SIDE PANEL, (G) THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FIRST MENTIONED PARTITION AND SAID ABBREVIATED PARTITION BEING SUCH THAT THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS OF SAID FURROWING AREA ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PERMIT A SOW TO TURN AROUND ENDWISE WHILE THEREWITHIN, (H) SAID RELATIVELY SHORT GATE MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE 